Self-unloading vehicle



Aug. 17 1926. 1,595,988

E. BONGARDT SELF UNLQADING VEHICLE Filed May 1:5, 19:24 2 sheets-shut 1 Amgo 17 1926. 1,595,988

E. BQNGARDT SELF UNLOADING VEHICLE Filed May 13 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented l7,

whit? s'rass ERNST 'BONGARDT, 0F MAINZO1\T-TEERHINE, GERMANY.

SELF-UNLOADING VEHICLE.

Application filed May 13, 1924;, Serial No.

This invention relates to a self-unloading vehicle or wagon having a flat bottom adapted to be lowered on one or on both sides, and in which the weight of the descending load is utilized for lifting the wagon body so as to enable the weight of the raised wagon to be used subsequently again for closing the bottom. By these arrangements the work of unloading is considerably facilitated, the bottom during its opening being caused to act on a gear of any suitable type, for example a toothed or lever-gear or a toggledever arrangement, a worm gear or the like which raises the wagon body and after the emptying of the wagon closes the bottom again by'the action of the weight of the wagon body. The bottom is held locked in its open position and the wagon body is accordingly held in its raised position until the closing of the bottom is again desired.

The arrangement may be used for individual as well as for divided bottoms. There is, moreover, the further arrangement that the lateral walls of the vehicle have their lower edges provided with flaps, adapted to bear on the bottom and to open towards the discharging side during the lowering of the bottom, thus facilitating a quicker unloading; In addition there is a locking device for the bottom adapted to maintain it in closed or open position, and enabling at the same time a smooth closing and locking oi the bottom in both positions to be obtained.

One form of construction according to the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings showing a single bottom arrangement, but it will be obvious that this arrangement may also be used for wagons having a divided bottom.

Fig. 1 shows the wagon with the bottom in the closed position, and

Fig. 2 the bottom in the open position.

011 the front walls 01 the vehicle frame 1 are mounted rotatably at 2 levers 3 which are connected by an intermediate lever 4-, the free ends of the levers 3 being connected at 6 to the wagon body 1 by means of the levers 5. The intermediate lever l is connected at 8 by a rod 7 to the middle of the bottom 9, the latter being held on its pivots 10 by the hooks 11 adapted to be actuated from levers 12 by means of rods 13.

If the bottom is lowered on one side, as shown in Fig. 2, the intermediate lever a is pulled downwards by the rod 7 causing 713,062, and in Germany March 19, 1924.

the levers 3 to be swung up and to raise, the wagon body 1.

The lateral walls of the wagon body 1 do not reach down to the bottom 9, but are provided with flaps 15 as shown at 14: which rest on the bottom. Rigidly connected to these flaps are levers 16 which are actuated by springs 17.

hen the bottom is lowered on one side, as shown in Fig. 2, the flap 15 relative there to becomes tree and is opened under the weight of the load of the body 1, at the same time tensioning the spring 17. After the load has been discharged the flap 15 under the action of said spring returns to its initial position.

Cams 19 pivoted at 18 serve for locking the bottom 9 in its closed position.

Each cam is under the influence of a pressure and tensioirspring 19 acting on the lever 20. Each cam is provided with an arm 21 actuated through a transmission lever 22 by the short arm 23 of a hand lever 25. W hen the hand-lever 25, which is pivoted at 24:; is moved in an outward direction the transmission lever ,22 acts on the arm 21 and causes the same and the cam to oscillate on its pivotal point in such a manner that the pivot 10, Fig. 1, becomes disengaged. This pivot will slide on the curved portion 26 of the cam 19, and on reaching the lower part of the said curve causing the cam to return and the pivot 10 to move below the pawl and to be held in position. In this ac tion the movement of the bottom 9 is retarded by the action of the spring 19 and arrives in its end position without shock.

in its upward movement the bottom is bralred and then locked by the cam bolt in a similar manner.

If the handlever 25 is moved in an inward direction the transmission lever 22 engages again the arm 21 causing the cam 19 to oscillate in the opposite direction thereby treeing the pivot 10 (Fig. 2). The latter now glides along the curve 26 of the cam caus ing it to return and at the same time braking the upward movement of the bottom. Finally the pivot 10 grips over the top of the cam (Fig. 1) and the bottom is thus locked in its position.

The same arrangement is provided on both sides of the wagon the action being the same on each side.

When the wagon is to be discharged the hook 11 on the discharging side of the wagon is released by means of handlever 12, thus freeing the corresponding pivot 10 of the bottom 9. The handlever 25 is then moved in an outward direction, thereby causing the cam 19 to oscillate and release the pivot 10 enabling the latter to slide down, to be braked, and linally locked. The bottom, descending under the weight 01 the load, transmits its movement to the lever gear 3, l, by means of the rod 7 and lilts the wagon bony 1.

Simul aneously and under the weight of the load the flap 1:") on the same side is opened, and again closed immediately after the discharge of the wagon body 1, under the action oi the springs 17. The hand lever is then again swung over causing the cam 19 to release the pivot 10 and the w ight of the wagon body 1 raises the bottom 9 by means of the lever gear 3, 4 and the rod 7, while the body 1 is again caused to descend. The cams 19 may beheld in their individual positions by any special locking device, in which event the hooks 11. and their handlevers 12 may be dispensed with, with the advantage that during the ascent of the wagon body, the bottom is not raised at the same time.

I claim:

l. in a vehicle of the character described, a movable bottom, a vertically movable body, and means actuated by the movement of the bottom for raising and lowering the body.

.2. In vehicle of the character described, a pivoted bottom, a vertically movable body, and means actuated by the downward movement oil the bottom for raising the body.

In a vehicle of the character described, a movable bottom, a vertically movable body, levers connected with the body adapted to raise and lower the latter, and means connecting the bottom with the levers for actuating the latter to raise and lower the body.

4. In a vehicle of the character described, a pivoted bottom, a vertically movable body, levers connected with the body adapted to raise and lower the latter, and means connecting the bottom with the levers whereby a downward movement of the bottom will operate the levers to raise the body and vice versa.

5. In a vehicle of the character described, a movable bottom, means for supporting the latter, means for actuating the supporting means to release the bottom, a spring controlled cam member normally in the path of movement of the bottom, and means for controlling the position of thecam members, to permit the movement of the bottom.

6. In a vehicle of the character described, a pivoted bottom, means for supporting the latter, means for actuating the supporting means to release the bottom, braking members for retarding the movement of the bot tom and adapted to lock the latter in its raised and lowered positions, and means for actuating the braking members to permit the movement of the bottom.

7. In a vehicle of the character described, a pivoted bottom, detachable supports for the latter, a body portion, levers supporting the latter, links connecting the levers with the bottom operable by the movement of the latter to raise and lower the bottom, sprin controlled side members pivoted to the body, and spring actuated members adapted to automatically lock the bottom in its raised and lowered positions.

8. In a vehicle of the character described, a pivoted bottom, detachable supports for the latter, a body portion, levers supporting the latter, links connecting the levers with the bottom operable by the movement of the latter to raise and lower the bottom, spring controlled side members pivoted to the body, spring actuated members adapted to automatically lock the bottom in its raised and lowered positions, and means for operating the locking members to permit the move ment of the bottom.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this 22nd day of April, 1924.

ERNST BONGARDT. 

